Data page · Northeast region
Solar Panel Cost in Massachusetts (2026)
A typical Massachusetts rooftop system costs around $3.15/W cash, installed, before incentives — with most quotes landing between $2.9/W and $3.6/W. The federal residential tax credit is $0 for 2026 installations (it ended 12/31/2025).
Market estimate · compiled 2026-08 · sources: marketplace reports, NREL, EIA, state programs — see methodology.
The federal residential solar tax credit (30% §25D) ended December 31, 2025.
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, systems placed in service on or after January 1, 2026 do not qualify for the residential credit. Systems installed and operational by December 31, 2025 can still be claimed at 30% on the 2025 return. Commercial and third-party-owned (lease/PPA) projects may qualify under §48E — see the federal incentives page.
Status verified 2026-08-21. Confirm your circumstances with a qualified tax professional.
Typical cash price / watt
$3.15
range $2.90–$3.60 $/W
10 kW system (gross)
$31,500
$29,000–$36,000 · before incentives
Avg electricity rate
28.82¢/kWh
EIA May 2026 · avg use 570 kWh/mo
Export / net-metering
retail nem
Retail net metering (subject to caps); SMART adds a production incentive.
Cost by system size
Gross installed cash price, before incentives. Net cost in 2026 = gross − $0 federal − any verified state/local incentive (see below).
Solar resource & economics
- Production factor (est.)
- 1497 kWh/kW/yr
- 10 kW annual production (est.)
- 12,874 kWh
- Year-1 savings for 10 kW at avg rate, 35% self-use
- $3,710
- Simple payback (net cost ÷ Yr-1 savings, rough)
- ≈ 17 yrs
These are rough planning numbers. Model your exact scenario in the price calculator — assumptions are visible and adjustable.
Export policy detail
Retail net metering (subject to caps); SMART adds a production incentive.
Why it matters: if exports are credited at the retail rate (1:1 net metering), every kWh counts the same. Under net billing or avoided-cost export, storing daytime power (battery) or shifting use matters far more. Your utility’s tariff — not the state average — decides this. Utility records
Incentives in Massachusetts (status-aware)
SMART (Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target)
CurrentDeclining $/kWh production incentive (term 10 years)
Confirm current block and adders (e.g., battery storage adder) before budgeting.
Source: Massachusetts DOER · Last checked 2026-08-21
ConnectedSolutions — battery demand-reduction
CurrentAnnual per-kWh payments for dispatch during peak events
Program terms vary by utility and season — confirm current design.
Source: Massachusetts utilities (via Eversource/National Grid/Unitil) · Last checked 2026-08-21
Property tax exemption for solar
CurrentExempt from property tax
Confirmed current.
Source: Massachusetts General Laws · Last checked 2026-08-21
Sales tax exemption for solar
CurrentExempt from state sales tax
Confirmed current.
Source: Massachusetts DOR · Last checked 2026-08-21
Tax exemptions: Property tax — current: Solar exempt from property tax. Sales tax — current: Solar exempt from state sales tax.
Federal residential credit (§25D): expired 12/31/2025 — $0 for 2026 installations. Commercial/third-party-owned projects: see federal incentives.
Local considerations
- High rates + SMART incentive = among the better paybacks in the Northeast.
- High $/W relative to the sun belt — soft costs and labor.
- SMART block values decline; confirm current block and adders.
Battery note: batteries add roughly $1,000–$2,000/kWh installed and rarely pay for themselves on energy savings alone. In Massachusetts, storage value depends on your export policy (retail nem), TOU rates and outage risk — model it in the battery calculator.
Nearby states
Next steps
Every estimate on this page is a planning range — only a site inspection and real quote give an exact price.
Data sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly (rates, May 2026) · NREL (solar resource) · marketplace cost reports & state programs (cost estimates, 2026) · incentive records last checked 2026-08-21. Full detail in methodology.